Dead Ringer's Jon Culshaw: I would love to do a period drama

COMEDIAN, actor and impressionist Jon is best known for voicing characters on puppet comedy shows Spitting Image (1994-96) and Newzoids, and has appeared in The Impressions Show alongside Debra Stephenson since 2009.

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We have just finished a series of Radio 4’s Dead Ringers. There are such rich political characters to impersonate right now – Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Donald Trump are my favourites. We’ll be working on Christmas and New Year shows soon, too.

Will you be doing Newzoids again, too?

Quite possibly, but it is still being discussed. I’m not sure how much I’m meant to say.

How did you get into doing impressions and comedy?

When I was growing up, I was in the local amateur dramatic group in Ormskirk. I loved watching TV comedians like Mike Yarwood, too.

I volunteered to work at my local hospital radio and then I got an overnight spot at the local Red Rose Radio station, where I did a few impersonations. It led from there.

And what was your big break?

I won a competition to do an interview on Radio 2’s Steve Wright In The Afternoon show, and the resulting tape I sent to the producers of Spitting Image. When Steve Coogan left, I got a job with them.

Has anyone been unimpressed by an impression?

People are more cross if you don’t do them, to be honest. Politicians and newsreaders often come up to me and ask why I’m not impersonating them! It’s a badge of honour to them.

Do you have unfulfilled ambitions?

I would love to do a period drama. I had a small role as a comedian in an episode of Inspector George Gently, which was good fun.

What’s the most thoughtful thing anyone has done for you?

On Christmas Eve in 1993, I broke down on the motorway on the way to my parents’ home in Ormskirk. I didn’t belong to the AA or RAC, but a kindly pick-up truck driver stopped and took me and my car back to my parents’ house.

For information and tickets to The Great British Take Off tour, which starts tonight, visit jonculshaw.com.